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Council agrees to reconsider rejected grant contract for financial empowerment services
Summary
Council voted to reconsider a previously rejected authorization for the city manager to contract with Blue Knowledge Consulting (grant‑funded financial empowerment services). Mayor and staff emphasized the work is grant‑funded and recommended additional briefings for council members who sought more information.
The Savannah City Council on April 23 voted to put a previously rejected contract authorization back on the agenda for reconsideration after Alderman Linda Wilder Bryan and others urged the council not to lose a grant opportunity.
Alderman Wilder Bryan asked the council to reconsider its earlier disapproval of an item authorizing the city manager to execute a contract with Blue Knowledge Consulting for financial empowerment research and engagement services (staff referenced a recommended amount in the $60,000–$65,000 range). Mayor Van R. Johnson II framed the work as grant‑funded, saying, "This is grant money, no money from city funds," and warned that rejecting the item could jeopardize the city’s ability to participate in the Cities for Financial Empowerment cohort.
City staff explained an RFP process with six respondents and a best‑and‑final offer that led to recommending Blue Knowledge Group; staff also said an extended RFP could put the city out of sync with cohort performance timelines. Several council members said they wanted additional meetings with economic development staff to review scope, procurement, and cohort expectations before final reconsideration. The council voted to place the reconsideration on the next meeting agenda.
No final contract was executed at the April 23 meeting; staff committed to schedule briefings for councilmembers and to provide additional procurement documentation ahead of the reconsideration vote.
